Tuesday

The old saying recommends letting sleeping dogs lie, but what about alleged sleeping drunks?

A 26-year-old Richboro man is facing a first-degree felony charge after he allegedly attacked several Northampton police officers after they found him passed out near a Richboro bank.

John Gwiazdowski of Second Street Pike faces a myriad of charges including resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. The most serious offense, aggravated assault, carries a minimum 10-year jail sentence if convicted.

Gwiazdowski was allegedly sleeping face-down on the ground in the 900 block of Second Street Pike when a Northampton police officer on a routine patrol found him shortly before 3 a.m. Monday, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Patrolman Kenneth Koreck described Gwiazdowski as “highly intoxicated.” The officer said he tried for several minutes unsuccessfully to wake Gwiazdowski before calling for assistance, bringing three more officers to the scene, according to the affidavit.

After patrolman Chris Clifton woke Gwiazdowski, he responded by allegedly attacking the officers, according to the affidavit.

At one point, Gwiazdowski allegedly kicked and punched Cpl. Chris Cully in the head and punched and kicked Clifton in the head, face and hands, breaking a knuckle on the officer’s right hand, according to police.

Gwiazdowski continued resisting and fighting the officers as they attempted to handcuff him, according to the affidavit. Koreck said he had to hold Gwiazdowski’s legs to protect the other officers.

After Gwiazdowski was handcuffed, Koreck noted he had a “strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and person,” according to the affidavit. He also allegedly screamed profanities at the officers.

At police headquarters, the officers allegedly found a clear plastic bag containing “green leafy vegetable matter” (suspected marijuana) in one of Gwiazdowski’s pants pockets, along with a glass smoking pipe with residue, according to the affidavit.

Gwizdowski was arraigned on the charges Monday morning before Falls District Judge Jan Vislosky and sent to Bucks County Prison in lieu of $100,000/10 percent bail, which was posted later Monday, according to court records.

Jo Ciavaglia: 215-949-4181;

email: jciavaglia@phillyBurbs.com; Twitter: @jociavaglia

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